Overview and Common Failures
Body and Interior: The paintwork is delicate and easily prone to chipping, but the body itself holds up quite well. The chrome coating and radiator grille tend to deteriorate quickly. The light-colored interior looks fancy, but it isn't particularly resistant to wear and tear. However, the equipment here is quite decent, and electrical malfunctions are not frequent. The downsides of this model include weak sound insulation and headlight adjuster failures.
Engine: The 1.4 G4EE and 1.6 G4ED gasoline engines are simple and very reliable units. The main complaints are related to fluctuating RPMs due to throttle contamination. With high mileage, oil consumption and noisy hydraulic compensators are often encountered. The 1.5 D4FA diesel engine is demanding in terms of fuel quality and has a short timing chain lifespan.
Transmission: The 5-speed M5CF1 manual transmission with a 1.4-liter engine does not cause any major troubles. However, it often requires servicing when paired with the 1.6-liter engine at around 100,000 km. The 4-speed A4AF3 automatic transmission is reliable and can go without problems up to 250,000 km. The early years' production of the 4-speed A4CF1 automatic transmission was somewhat problematic and frequently failed. These transmissions are also sensitive to prolonged wheel spinning as the differential cannot withstand it.
Suspension: The suspension is considered a weak point of this model, with many complaints related to it. Shock absorbers tend to wear out the fastest, potentially leaking before reaching 40,000 km. Ball joints and numerous bushings often need replacement before 100,000 km. The power steering tends to fail frequently, but the rack itself is sturdy. There are few complaints about the braking system, with only squeaking rear drums being mentioned.
